NEWS

Ms. Johnston's SLAM NYC & BP to host free film screening on addiction, recovery on Thursday, Nov. 12 at 6:30 PMBorough President James S. Oddo and two-time Emmy winning actress Kristen Johnston sat down in his office this afternoon for a one-on-one conversation about her battle with addiction and her recovery. Both are committed to recovery from addiction and together with SLAM NYC and the Staten Island Advance, will host a free film screening of the movie, "The Anonymous People" on November 12th at 6:30 p.m. at the St. George Theatre. Ms. Johnston is known for her role on TV's "Third Rock from the Sun." An advocate for recovery who has been open about her struggle with addiction, she has been clean and sober for 9 years. She sat down with BP Oddo, who played the role of interviewer during the press conference. "We are trying to share with people that this is a disease of the brain," Johnston said, noting that medical recognition of the disease will continue to help de-stigmatize it. "We want to let kids know, let parents know, there's no shame in getting help," she said.In fact, she shared her own experience in a book and does the same in the film, "The Anonymous People." "Hundreds and thousands of people have changed their lives because I told the truth," Johnston said, noting that if she can touch just one person or family on Thursday night it will be a successful evening. "Thursday night we'll show the film that has changed the way people view addiction in this country," Johnston said, adding that it's a celebration of recovery and that all should come out for it.